Snooker star Judd Trump has been living in Dubai and Hong Kong for over a year, but insists weather and facilities – not tax – are behind his relocation decision.
Judd Trump has denied relocating abroad for tax purposes, instead insisting that better weather and superior snooker facilities drove his decision. The 36-year-old has been based in Dubai and Hong Kong for more than 18 months now.
The Bristol-born star does, however, regularly return to Britain for major snooker tournaments, such as the World Championship at Sheffield’s Crucible and the UK Championship in York. Trump is set to compete at another UK-based event, the Masters, this week where the former world champion will face Ding Junhui in his opening-round clash on Wednesday.
While there are undeniable financial advantages to living in the Middle East, Trump maintains there are numerous personal factors behind his move. The two-time Masters champion said: “We can’t get away with tax.
“Everything (earned) in the UK is still taxed. So that’s not the reason.
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“For me, the reason for going is I enjoy spending time outdoors. I can’t really get that here in the UK anymore.
“I enjoy playing golf a lot in my downtime and I brought some of my clubs over to the UK Championship, but I was unable to play as it was too cold. So there’s a few reasons.
“I’ve always wanted to move to Dubai. I just felt like now is the time, when the game is changing, really.
“Half the tournaments are abroad. I can imagine that there’s going to be a day where it’s going to be beneficial to be in Dubai, or wherever it is, rather than in the UK anymore. That’s what I feel. Obviously because of Zhao Xintong, there’s going to be more tournaments in China in the future and abroad.”
Judd Trump isn’t the only sports star who has relocated to Dubai in recent years. Former Manchester United and England footballer Rio Ferdinand has also made the move to the Middle East.
In a conversation with LBC, last November, Ferdinand said: “If there were things like the health service and what not, and they were flying and working perfectly well then I think people wouldn’t mind paying tax.
“But when things are falling apart – or going wrong – you did sit there and go; ‘Well I’m paying all this tax, but is it really going towards the things that benefit the people that live here’. That’s a big question that needs answering – and I think a lot of us know the answer to that.”
Ferdinand, who stepped down from his punditry role with TNT Sports last season, also mentioned that he enjoys more family time since moving. “My family is seeing me so much more and I’m spending some quality time with them and I think that’s just been a great thing for me,” he went on.
“I love England and I’m a patriotic guy in that sense, but a new journey, a new chapter, something different, I think is a refreshing new chapter in my life.”
Tyson Fury is another sportsperson who has moved, with the former heavyweight boxing champion relocating to the Isle of Man.
